The first days of fall* made me condense my morning outfit** questions to two possibilities : very very casual or very very effortless, a Californian uniform*** which soon made my boyfriend wince. You know, even if the man is very tolerant regarding fashion, he is nonetheless… A man.

I had to come up with a plan.

And as I was definitely unwilling to let go of my newfound comfort****, I found an extra smart ruse.

One morning, at 8 o’clock after my shower, I simply put on my yoga pants, my Nikes and a big sweater and I snuck behind my computer.

Scott looked at me and said : “Ah ! You’re going to yoga ?”

Smiling, I answered : “Yes !”

Suddenly I saw a weird expression on his face, and with an Sherlock Holmes eye, he asked me : “And what time exactly are you going to yoga ?”

Not knowing what to say (and also because I hate to lose) I heard myself answer :

“Nooooo, but, mmmm, you know, you don’t know, you know, if you knew how people love my yoga pants, you wouldn’t say that. Guys look at me on the street 10 times more than with my usual outfits ! I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.”

Note from the Gaga : I swear it’s totally true, I myself can’t believe it but my walks from home to my yoga studio are like Impulse moments (its a French ad, check the video at the end of this post). Men can’t stop staring at me and construction workers stop working and taxis slow down around me. I don’t know exactly what signal my yoga outfit sends out (I have to ask my mom to analyze that asap) but if you are single put on your yoga pants and go walk in the street ! High heels, skirts, red lipstick ? Pfffff, who cares ?

A few hours later, we were on the street together, on the way to go grab a coffee. He was dressed as a proper Sartorialist, I was wearing my shameful yoga pants, jumping around him with my sneakers and laughing at his funny faces.

“Look, let me walk ten steps ahead of you and look at the guys’ reactions, and it’s going to change the way you look at yoga pants forever !”

And I jumped ten steps ahead of him.

That’s how, suddenly not being close to me, he was able to witness with his own eyes the Mysterious Allure Of The Yoga Pants.

…

And that’s also how I traumatized him. Each time I leave the apartment with my yoga pants on, I can see the shadow of worry on his face…

EPILOGUE : (To reassure my mom) everything’s good, I am back to normal outfits (I even wear shoes with hard soles !)(I mean if you consider Minnetonkas to have hard soles) Oh, and everybody has a right to have down times, right ?

——-

*My huuuuge laziness.

** Well, you know, I am my own boss, so when I say morning, sometimes I also mean afternoon, too. Depends.

*** Sweatpants, big scarf and a huge Starbucks cup in my hands to make them look tiny*

**** Usually at that level my mother (who is a psychiatrist) would tell me that this is a pre-depressionary state and kick my butt to get back to normal dressing.

But for the Yoga pants… Uhhmm I think it’s because if you have a nice butt they make it stand in the perfect way ;-) (and men, we all know it, unlike us like nice butts more than nice heels)

And, lazy you!! I can totally live in my PJ’s for two days in a row (but of course I don’t go out. The maximum I can allow myself is to go buy milk in my training suit. But just milk, that’s it. Cause the shop is in front of my house)

Haha, I’m so surprised Scott wasn’t aware of the “Allure of the Yoga Pants”! My bf is always the first one to ogle over my yoga pants, he loves them! I don’t get it either, but I’m not going to complain.

This sounds like my normal Friday. I work from home and put on a fresh sweat outfit (typcially black yoga pants and a cute tank) and then start working. It makes me feel like I have to work out at lunch, so I do. It’s psychological for me, so let your mom know that it could be like that for you. :) Then I feel even more beautiful and done-up when I finally finish getting ready for the day!

Oh man…I have to admit that in Southern California we go to Pilates or Yoga and wear our leggings the rest of the day (or the whole day before). Not only are they crazy comfortable but they can be super flattering too!

Too funny, especially since I am sitting at my computer in yoga pants and my better half’s slippers (my feet are really cold), and I am not doing yoga until this evening. Maybe your post is a sign I should get up and find something else to wear, though I probably won’t ;)

I once heard or read Denis Leary rhapsodize about yoga pants, saying that when the woman wearing them has a nice butt, they are God’s gift to men. And I have to agree that if the derriere is reasonably toned and perky, they are super-flattering! My husband calls mine “foreplay pants”, as in when I innocently come home from a run in them, it is an act of foreplay for him! Anyway, I keep seeing the sporty look pop up in fashion spreads, and what’s up with slouchy sweat-pants with tapered legs worn with high heels. Really?? So not flattering, and destined to be one of those “what were they thinking?” jokes in future years. You’re an arbiter of style, Garance, so go ahead and wear those yoga pants anywhere you please.
Show the world that FLATTERING sporty clothing is the new thing!

Haha! This post made me really laugh. My fiance always talks about the allure of yoga pants. When I’m wearing them he always comments on how sexy I look and when we are walking around the city I notice him checking out other girls in yoga pants. The other day I slapped his arm as I saw him notice (but try not to have me notice!) a particularly yoga-toned bum in front of us and he said “what??? it’s the yoga pants! I can’t help but look!”

Garance, this is great.
Come to think of it a realize now that I do tend to stare at people out on the street who are wearing yoga and other work out clothes out on the street. and I must tell you I often look because they seem a bit out of place, but I am sure you look great.
But I must say that I am glad to hear that you now went back to wearing regular clothes.
Love the post.

Garance, you should visit Vancouver, Canada, arguably the birthplace of the yoga pants. You will walk around the city bewildered that half the female population wears these pants as real clothing. Here, athletic wear is acceptable even if you are not being athletic! Nobody will bat an eyelash. It is an epidemic. Please be careful with your yoga pants- wear yoga pants responsibly. It is a slippery slope. ;)

Wait a minute, wait a minute….so what do all you ladies wear when you are at home (assuming that you too, like me, want to feel comfortable and warm)??
Am I the only one who thinks it’s normal to wear yoga pants/other loungewear if you don’t have to go out??
Please tell me I am not the only one!!!
Love the post Garance! Keep up the good work! And that’ll teach Scott to make fun of comfy clothes!! :-)

Haha, this was funny! I went to New York and was on my way back home from a yoga class, wearing blue yoga pants, a blue shirt, leopard shoes and 2 awesome young women stopped me on the street up at Upper West side and told me how Beautiful and French I looked ( I am not french ) But there you go Garance!

Garance you’re hilarious! you paint the perfect pictures with your stories, I love it!
I am however gonna have to pass on the yoga pants, I’m sure you’ll understand why if you’ve been to Vancouver!http://moon-ville.blogspot.com

Can you imagine what happens here in Rome if I go out with my yoga pants? Totally crazy idea here :)) I love the fact the girl in your illustration has nail polish only on one finger, I don’t know if that was your intention but I just looove it!

Ha! This is hilarious and so true! I used to wear workout clothes back in San Francisco, and I tried wearing them out in Paris one day and have never done so again because of the horrified looks on Parisian’s faces. Just means I leave the house less on lazy days :)

So crazy that you would post this today as I happened to wear my yoga pants all day, and I had an inner dialogue going on in my head all day about it.
“Does this mean that I’ve really let it all go, but my butt looks so good in these, why is there such a stigma about wearing them in public when I look this good in them, when
I wear them I am way more active, look I’m taking the baby for a second walk today because I don’t have to waste the time changing from something that doesn’t look right with sneakers” Then I had a small panic attack when I thought about the fact that my lulu lemons are getting quite old and I really need a new pair and would my family be offended if they found out that I am finally coming home for a visit simply to buy a new pair of yoga pants.

u know what? i’m exactly the same!
except that i wear my exercise sweatpants (which is normally hanging over the exercise bike) ALL DAY to encourage myself to just hop on the bike! No need to change into extra clothes!
But… um it doesnt really work…. the sweatpants are soooo comfortable to just… LIE around in.
thanks for the laugh!
jasmine xx

I should really get a pair of yoga pants. Not for the looks (of cooouuurse not, never), but if they are really that comfortable and quite aesthetically pleasing, it sounds like the perfect pants for running some errands or as a travel outfit. Oh, but I guess I should start yoga classes then too, just to be able to justify buying these pants. Otherwise the boyfriend would maybe get a bit worried too…

But I have to say Garance, I think you’re the best (fashion) blogger out there. You put so much personality and humour in your posts, and many women can relate to it some way or another. Love it!

I am from Vancouver, BC where Lululemon was created over 10 years ago. Our city’s culture of yoga and althetics usually lands us on the “worst dressed” lists- but I swear- “Lulus” always make heads turn since they fit so perfectly. Plus, I am always on the way to a workout.. eventually…

YUP. My Lululemon yoga pants seem to stop men in their tracks. I work out with a close friend of mine and we always seem to walk around in black workout pants.. We turn A LOT of heads and always have a laugh about it!

I am reading this as I sit at the computer in MY yoga pants. I never really comment on blogs that I read, but I am breaking that today. Garance, I have always dreamed of having a friend from Paris. Your friendly, down to earth posts make me feel like I have a Parisian friend. I like your posts about fashion, but I REALLY like your posts about everyday life and trying to figure out how to be the best “you” that you can be in all areas – health and beauty, fashion, friends and family. Thanks for your honest stories, I am happy to have you as my faraway French friend!

Im always either smiling, all out laughing or knodding my head in agreement to you blog! Brillaint! Although here in London I have NEVER seen a girl in yoga bottoms, except in the studio..and even though will be quite amazing..

Brit It girls are always flawless when on the streets…now as for indoors, well shall we keep that a secret?

Saw your photos displayed at Phaidon the other weekend down in Soho. Very cool. Love your blog and yoga pants do have something about them :) Love the sketch above, could recommend any good books on fash illos. I cannot not find any. Love your style and want to take a stab at it myself.

I live in Vancouver Canada where Lululemons originated (super hot yoga pants) and we have got to stop wearing them everywhere. Around the house no problem, to yoga but of course, but I draw the line at out to dinner. They are SO comfy though, and you’re absolutely right guys love the rear view.

I, myself, go back and forth about whether wearing yoga pants all day is appropriate. Did you see the article in the NYT last weekend about mothers and the pressure to be wearing full ensembles for school drop-off? As a mother, I know there is a whole contingent of moms who wear Lululemon clothes all day. So I know I could get away with it. But I also like looking a bit more put-together (when I can pull it off).

Plus, I haven’t decided how alluring I look in my yoga pants. I’m usually in and out of my car with them and so can’t tell how many looks I’m getting.

As for you, congratulations on looking hot in your yoga pants!!! You should feel fab about that. And it won’t hurt for Scott to see all the looks you get from elsewhere!!

The yoga pants….yoga in itself actually makes men a little bit prone to look at women.
There mere mention of yoga….and their eyes lite up with a little twinkle (especially from those who have never actually attended a yoga class)…..yup its funny and I keep enjoying it.

We had the ad at 2:50 and similar ads of Impulse in Russia in the 90s… and there were improved ones where there were a few guys on each side of the road stunned by the scent and chasing after the girl.

today was the first time i wore my yoga pants out in public… not as tragic as i expected but still, it won’t happen again! or at least not very often! or… hmm… they were comfortable i have to admit!
xoxo
ion:)
thefashionwithcurves.blogspot.com

That’s probably why everyone in Vancouver wears yoga pants…. And probably why we have a reputation for it. And probably why Lululemon has expanded beyond being just a local little company. It’s not even embarrassing to wear yoga pants in public here, it’s normal.

OMG, Garance! Impulse used to be my face perfume, Impulse O2 to be exact! It was so citrusy fresh! And you are so right. The strangest thing happens when we don’t care much about how we look and just look like our effortless selves. I think it helps our je ne sais quoi to stay intact, without fake coverups from elaborate clothes to beauty products. It makes us more approachable and there’s nothing sexier. Scott is right to be worrying :-)

Ha Ha! I have “dress” flare yoga pants for the office – lululemons – and they look fabulous with a great jacket or tunic (butt always covered), accessories and heels/boots. So much more comfortable than, and just as stylish as, jeans.

OK. I can only assume your yoga pants are about three sizes too small. Or else maybe they are lime green, and people are wondering where you got lime green yoga pants and why. I can see certain people getting checked out in yoga pants…but yoga pants and an oversized sweater? What are they checking out? Your knees?